Factual error: Boxes of Krispy Kreme doughnuts are seen in several episodes; there were no Krispy Kreme locations in Wisconsin until after 2000.
Factual error: In the intro theme, most of the cars in the background are newer then the set time period. About halfway, you see an at least 1997 Ford F-150 pickup drive by the left windows, not manufactured yet.
Continuity mistake: In the second episode of the series Eric's Birthday is in May. The second episode of season 5 Eric says his birthday is in March. In season 6 Eric's Birthday occurs after graduation, which would make his birthday after June.
Factual error: Several times, Fez claims to love the book "Superfudge", reading it once a month. However, it wasn't published until 1980.
Other mistake: How did Donna take the SATs with the rest of the group if she was going to a different school? She is even wearing her catholic school uniform.
Factual error: At the start of every episode we see the gang driving. Cars in the background are not from the 70s but the late 90s. For instance, the truck that comes up beside them at the end is a 90s Ford F150.
Factual error: Eric has diecast model cars in his bedroom; those were not around then. The ones he has weren't available until the 1990s.
Continuity mistake: When Red throws the keys to the Vista Cruiser to Eric, you can see he (Eric) catches them with both hands clasped together, then the camera cuts to show Red and Kitty (with the back of Eric's head) you see now that his right hand is clenched in the air, then it cuts again and his hands are clasped together again. He could not have moved his hands that quick.
Continuity mistake: In the scene where Eric gets the keys to the Vista Cruiser, just after he catches them, you can see that the door to the living room is wide open, but before when Red and Kitty were telling him the responsibilities of owning a car, it is closed. No one had gone through the door during the entire scene.
Visible crew/equipment: As Jackie opens the door and comes into the room near the end, you can see the bottom of a microphone. (00:20:15)
Visible crew/equipment: Stage lights and the end of the set can be seen in the scene when Kelso is confronting another man for courting Jackie. (00:16:00)
Visible crew/equipment: When Kelso sees Jackie in the hallway at the rally, he walks over to her. As he does this, the shadow of the camera is visible on the lower half of his coat.
Thanksgiving - S1-E9
Factual error: The scene where Kitty is making peanut butter celery for Thanksgiving appetizers; she is using Skippy brand peanut butter and the packaging is not from the 70's, it's the current packaging. (00:05:10 - 00:06:05)
Character mistake: Fez clams that he has never seen snow before, however this episode takes place January '77. there have been episodes with snow that date earlier, eg. "The Best Christmas Ever" which had snow in the background of the set.
Factual error: Red takes the gang to a World Wrestling Federation event; in the '70s, it was the World Wide Wrestling Federation.
Visible crew/equipment: When Jackie tells Eric that she can really use a friend right now, in the next shot facing Eric just as he says, "Okay, well, good luck with that," the camera and crew member wearing a blue shirt can be seen at the left side of the screen. (00:01:00)
Visible crew/equipment: When Donna and Eric run to the car to discuss something secretly, a camera can be seen entering the right side of the scene. (00:01:55)
Continuity mistake: When Eric is at the pharmacy, Bob picks up a bottle of cologne. When the shot switches so does the bottle of cologne.
Continuity mistake: When Kitty comes downstairs to give the gang cookies, she tells Eric that she picked out an outfit for him to wear on career day. He then turns and mouths the words "Help me." In the next shot you can see Jackie sitting on Kelso's lap when in the previous episode, she broke up with him. In the next shot she is standing behind him. (00:01:00)
Visible crew/equipment: In the scene in Bargain Bob's where Donna is talking to Bob, the end of the set and lights can be seen in the reflection of metal cookware that Bob is tying balloons to. (00:07:50)
Chosen answer: He isn't. Time moves slowly in the show because they didn't want it to turn into "That '80's Show". In the first episode, he say's he's 17 but the second episode was his 17th birthday so he must have been 16. The first 12 episodes are set in 1976, the next 2 seasons are set in 1977, the next 3 seasons are set in 1978, and the remaining shows take place in 1979 with the final show on Dec 31, 1979 when Eric must be 20 as he turned 17 in 1976.
Myridon